Media: EU countries are far from consensus on the issue of Russian gas price ceiling

MOSCOW, 29 Sep — PRIME. The EU countries are far from reaching a common opinion and agreement on the introduction of restrictions on prices for Russian gas, Reuters reports citing a high-ranking European diplomat.

The diplomat noted that now it is “difficult to say” whether such an agreement on prices for Russian gas will be reached. The issue is expected to be discussed at a meeting of the bloc’s energy ministers on Friday.

“There is currently nothing even close to consensus on the issue of price caps,” the European diplomat said.

European Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson said on Thursday that she believes it is possible to impose a price ceiling on Russian gas, despite the call by most EU countries to impose such restrictions on all gas imports, regardless of its origin.

Earlier, the energy ministers of 15 EU countries sent a joint appeal to the European Commission, in which they advocated the introduction of a price ceiling for all gas imported into the EU, regardless of its origin.

The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced the need to introduce a price ceiling for Russian gas. At the end of August, she announced that the European Commission is working on prompt and long-term measures to improve the situation against the backdrop of rising electricity prices in the EU, which mainly depend on the cost of blue fuel. The Council of Energy Ministers of the EU instructed the European Commission to prepare a project for the introduction of a gas price ceiling by October.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, commenting on the West’s idea to limit prices for Russian energy resources, said that Russia would not supply anything abroad if it would be contrary to its own interests.

An emergency meeting of EU energy ministers is scheduled for Friday.